Amp Up Your Turkey Day this Thanksgiving

An aerial shot of a family enjoying a huge meal at a table.

Posted: 13 Nov 2019

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Once the turkey left-overs are wrapped in tin foil and the last piece of pumpkin pie is devoured, the cooks all breathe a sigh of relief and the real quality time together begins. If your post-meal Thanksgiving activities include a food-coma and staring blankly at a football game or a movie on the television screen while the teens all stare at their phone screens – then it’s time to add some new activities to your Turkey Day line-up. Here is the best menu for some holiday fun for every age that will help make your Thanksgiving get-togethers a little more festive. Think of it like a full-course meal of motivating and fun activities!

MAIN COURSE

One of the best ideas is to rally your holiday group together for some family-friendly games that will burn off some of the calories from the Thanksgiving meal. If the weather is cooperating, head outside for a scavenger hunt in the backyard once all of the feasting is done. Be sure to incorporate some games that will appeal to all ages – from young to old. Have plenty of equipment handy for a Turkey Day Thanksgiving Tournament like single elimination games of flag football, corn hole or bocce ball. Then, let the play-offs begin, and let the winners strut their stuff.

SIDE DISH

If the sun is setting on your Thanksgiving day event, be ready with this glow-in-the-dark game. Capture the Flag REDUX is the classic game revolutionized with futuristic glow-in-the-dark lights. Grab the aunts, uncles and cousins and watch them get moving as they break teammates out of jail, sneak into enemy territory, protect base and steal the glowing flag to win. Each game box includes two glowing orbs to use as the “flags,” color-coded LED bracelets to differentiate team members, glowing jail markers, and a rulebook. As an extra bonus, each kit includes 12 game variation cards that offer even more ways to play Capture the Flag, as well as other games.

THE GRAVY

The game variations in the Capture the Flag REDUX box are like a little extra gravy on the side. You’re sure find something for every group of turkeys.

NINJA: One team is chosen to be “ninjas” and not wear the LED bracelets. This allows you to add 16 additional players without purchasing any additional game pieces. It also allows a younger group to have a sneaky advantage.
WIZARD: Perfect for elderly family members or people who can’t run. Select one “wizard” who is unbiased as to who wins the game. This person has the power to yell “freeze” at anytime during the game and reposition players anywhere on the playing field, allowing Grandma a chance to create all kinds of mischief.
TRAITOR: Team leaders secretly pick a “traitor” from the opposing team. Then the “traitors” choose a time to turn off their bracelets and turn to the dark side of the opposing team for the remainder of the game.

THE DESSERT

Even if the weather is questionable, it doesn’t mean you still can’t get the family up and moving after the meal. Clear some space in the family room, or the basement and have an epic Thanksgiving Glow Battle Showdown. Glow Battle can be played with anywhere from 2 to 20 players. Players use harmless glowing batons to strategize and take down their opponents. Physical activity becomes part of the fun as players run, jump and swing at each other to win. Each game box comes with 10 weapons, 10 glowing wristbands, 8 regeneration station markers and 10 game playing cards.

WITH WHIPPED CREAM, PLEASE

Just like the best part of the pie is the whipped cream, the best part about Glow Battle is that you can play it in so many different ways.

GLADIATOR: It’s the ultimate family face-off, brothers vs sisters, fathers vs sons, mothers vs fathers. Whoever you decide to face-off, it’s fun rounds of one-on-one battles that you can turn into the ultimate Turkey Day Tournament.
STEAL THE BACON: Start with all of the weapons scrambled in the middle of the playing field then countdown to the race for the weapons. And, you’d better hope you picked the right weapon for your team color or you have to keep trying until you get it right.

Make the most of the time you have with your family and friends this Thanksgiving. Turn off the screens and make memories with a menu full of fun activities and creative game choices. Not only will you burn off some calories, but you’ll also be building family bonds, silly stories and competitive bragging rights that will last a lifetime. Or at least last until the next holiday rolls around. Speaking of which – can someone pass the rolls?